Worst air pollution Columbus Zoo and Aquarium - Columbus, today and tomorrow
Today (20 September): Air quality in Columbus Zoo and Aquarium is fair. AQI, PM2.5, NO2, and PM1 are fair; PM10, O3, SO2, CO, and HCHO are good. Pollution peaks around 7:00 AM (PM1: 39.4/100).
Tomorrow (21 September 2026): Air quality in Columbus Zoo and Aquarium is moderate. AQI worsens to moderate; PM2.5 decreases to good; NO2 increases to moderate; O3 increases to fair; all other pollutants stay as today. Pollution peaks around 3:00 PM (NO2: 40.4/100). Airmine updates local air quality forecasts four times daily.
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Developed with support from the European Space Agency (ESA)’s Business Applications and Space Solutions (BASS) team
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Columbus' Columbus Zoo and Aquarium air quality reflects the suburban Powell position north of Columbus, with vehicle traffic on Powell Road and the concentrated visitor traffic contributing local sources. The flat Ohio terrain allows reasonable dispersal, while summer ozone from the Ohio Valley airshed is the primary warm-season concern and the zoo's 588-acre mixed woodland and savanna habitat provides natural filtration throughout most of the year.
Today - 20 September | Pollution peaks at 07:00
AQI:
Fair
39.4/100
PM2.5 (fine particles):
Fair
27.5/100
PM10 (coarse particles):
Good
16.5/100
NO2 (nitrogen dioxide):
Fair
39.0/100
O3 (ozone):
Good
18.3/100
SO2 (sulfur dioxide):
Good
1.1/100
CO (carbon monoxide):
Good
0.6/100
HCHO (formaldehyde):
Good
2.7/100
PM1 (ultrafine particles):
Fair
39.4/100
Levels show the poorest local air quality during the day
Tomorrow - 21 September | Pollution peaks at 15:00
AQI:
Moderate
40.4/100
PM2.5 (fine particles):
Good
18.2/100
PM10 (coarse particles):
Good
12.6/100
NO2 (nitrogen dioxide):
Moderate
40.4/100
O3 (ozone):
Fair
22.5/100
SO2 (sulfur dioxide):
Good
2.1/100
CO (carbon monoxide):
Good
0.6/100
HCHO (formaldehyde):
Good
3.8/100
PM1 (ultrafine particles):
Fair
20.1/100
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Frequently Asked Questions
Is air quality bad in Columbus Zoo and Aquarium right now?
On 20 September 2026, overall air quality in Columbus Zoo and Aquarium is fair. AQI is the main air quality indicator at 39.4/100. Pollution peaks around 7:00 AM (PM1: 39.4/100).
Will air quality be worse tomorrow in Columbus Zoo and Aquarium?
On 21 September 2026, air quality conditions in Columbus Zoo and Aquarium will be worse than today, with AQI forecast at moderate at 40.4/100. Pollution peaks around 3:00 PM (NO2: 40.4/100).
When is air pollution at its worst in Columbus Zoo and Aquarium?
Columbus Zoo and Aquarium experiences the same seasonal air quality swings as the rest of Columbus: the mildest, cleanest weather usually falls in spring and autumn, but summer heat waves are the main driver of poor air quality, as ozone builds under stagnant, humid conditions. Lake-effect winds can help clear the air on many days near the Great Lakes shoreline.
Are air quality levels in Columbus Zoo and Aquarium based on measurements or forecasts?
It is forecasts derived by downscaling forecasts provided by EU’s Copernicus Atmosphere Monitoring Service (CAMS) by taking into account local conditions such as traffic patterns. CAMS bases its forecast on satellite measurements of particles and chemical compounds in the atmosphere. Airmine’s services were developed with support from the European Space Agency (ESA)’s Business Applications and Space Solutions (BASS) team.
Why doesn’t the forecast always reflect wildfire impacts?
Airmine’s forecast uses CAMS (Copernicus Atmosphere Monitoring Service) as its background atmospheric model. While CAMS includes wildfire emissions, these are derived from satellite observations and are not available in real time. During rapidly evolving wildfire events, there may therefore be a delay before increased emissions are incorporated into the model. As a result, the forecast may temporarily underestimate PM₂.₅ and other pollutants associated with wildfire smoke.
During rapidly evolving wildfire events, CAMS may lag by approximately 1–2 days before increased wildfire emissions are fully represented, which can lead to temporary underestimation of PM₂.₅ concentrations in Airmine’s forecast.
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Data provided by Airmine — Last update: 20 September 2026 at 14:33 CEST (Data is updated four times daily.)
This forecast is produced independently using Airmine's own atmospheric data and models.
Unless explicitly made clear, the content on this site has not been paid for by external organisations and is Airmine's sole responsibility.
Disclaimer: Forecasts are provided for informational purposes only and should not be relied upon as medical advice. Actual pollen and air quality conditions may vary from the forecast. If you have allergies, asthma, or another medical condition, consult a healthcare professional. Please see our Terms of Service for important information about limitations of liability.
Some text on this page may be generated or summarised using artificial intelligence (AI). Wherever possible, AI-generated content is enriched with Airmine's proprietary data to improve its accuracy and relevance. However, AI-generated content may still contain errors, omissions, or inaccuracies.
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